Major Visma transfer coup as they're set to swoop for Decathlon junior sensation - Top prospect could join brother at Vingegaard's team
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike have reportedly pulled off a major transfer coup, tempting a highly-rated junior rider from Decathlon CMA CGM's structure. Steff van Kerckhove is set to join the Dutch team from 2027, as he steps up from junior level and joins his older brother within the black and yellow squad.
The Belgian prospect, World time trial silver medallist in his first season at junior level last year, was previously expected to join Decathlon's development team from 2027. However, according to DirectVélo, Van Kerckhove has opted for a move to Visma instead.
Furthermore, Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Ciro Scognamiglio subsequently reported that he has signed a four-year contract that will see him initially join Visma's development team from 2027 with a view to progressing to WorldTour level in subsequent seasons.
Steff is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Matisse van Kerckhove - who will join the Dutch team's WorldTour squad after two seasons at the development squad. Visma's only other signing for 2027 so far is Mark Donovan's arrival from Pinarello Q36.5.
The news will come as a welcome reprieve for the junior sensation after his World Championships came to an abrupt end before they even began in Montreal last week.
Jonas Vingegaard is Visma | Lease a Bike's top rider
Van Kerckhove suffers World Championships training crash
The 18-year-old collided with a car in a training crash and was not able to contest victory with Benjamin Noval, leaving Canada with multiple broken vertebrae after the frightening collision.
Fortunately, he's back on the mend but described the scary incident. Noting that an inattentive driver came into his path on a straight road, he was immediately taken to hospital where scans showed that he had broken three vertebrae after already suffering four fractures of the same nature in a crash last December.
However, he missed out on his last chance to ride the World Championships at junior level. After his bronze in the time trial and 12th place in the road race in 2025, he was expected to rival Noval - who ultimately won both events in dominant fashion.
"A car came from the opposite direction and suddenly turned without looking. I had nowhere to go and crashed head-on into the side door. Jasper Schoofs immediately called the people from Belgian Cycling, and then I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance," he told Sporza.
Several vertebrae fractures
"Fortunately, the fractures were stable and surgery was not necessary. You know, at the hospital, they initially counted seven broken vertebrae on the scans, but that included the injuries from the previous fall. So actually, there are only three new ones."
In the immediate aftermath, the young belgian found it difficult to watch the time trial itself as he missed out, but found comfort in his teammate Victor De Smet's performance. The disappointment was compounded by his strong form in the lead-up to Canada.
"To be honest, I found it difficult to watch the junior time trial in the hospital. I even had to turn off the television a few times. But fortunately, I did see Vic De Smet's silver medal. I enjoyed that immensely. It even helped me to move on.
"We both felt really good in the run-up, and I was happy that he was able to capitalise on that. Especially because the federation had done everything to get us optimally prepared. I felt really bad, especially for the national coach, that I couldn't ride along. But oh well, it was just a stupid accident."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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